Barbed surgical staple

ABSTRACT

An exemplary surgical staple may include a base including a first end and a second end; a single tine extending from the second end of the base; and a barb extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base. An end of such a staple may be frangibly affixed to a feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one staple including a base including a first end and a second end, a first tine extending from the second end of the base, and a second tine extending from the base at a location between the first end of the base and the second end of the base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to surgical staplers and stapling.

BACKGROUND

An endocutter is a surgical tool that staples and cuts tissue totransect that tissue while leaving the cut ends hemostatic. Anendocutter is small enough in diameter for use in minimally invasivesurgery, where access to a surgical site is obtained through a trocar,port, or small incision in the body. A linear cutter is a larger versionof an endocutter, and is used to transect portions of thegastrointestinal tract. A typical endocutter receives at its distal enda disposable single-use cartridge with several rows of staples, andincludes an anvil opposed to the cartridge. During actuation of anendocutter, the cartridge fires all of the staples that it holds. Inorder to deploy more staples, the endocutter must be moved away from thesurgical site and removed from the patient, after which the oldcartridge is exchanged for a new cartridge. The endocutter is thenreinserted into the patient. However, it can be difficult and/ortime-consuming to located the surgical site after reinsertion. Further,the process of removing the endocutter from the patient after each use,replacing the cartridge, and then finding the surgical site again istedious, inconvenient and time-consuming, particularly where a surgicalprocedure requires multiple uses of the endocutter.

In order to overcome these difficulties, Cardica, Inc. of Redwood City,Calif. has developed a true multi-fire endocutter that is capable offiring multiple times without the need to utilize single-use-cartridges.Such an endocutter is described in, for example, U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2009/0065552, published on Mar. 12, 2009 (the“Endocutter Publication”), which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a barbed surgical staple in an open state.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the staple of FIG. 1 in a closed state.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-section view of the closed staple of FIG. 2 intissue.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of a surgical staple in anopen state.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the staple of FIG. 4 in a closed state.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an exemplary anvil pocket usable with thestaple of FIG. 4, as viewed along line A-A of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the exemplary anvil pocket of FIG. 6.

The use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary surgical staple 2 may include a base 4and a single tine 6 extending from an end of the base 4. The base 4 mayhave a first end 8 and a second end 10, and the tine 6 may extend fromthe second end 10 of the base 4. Alternately, the tine 6 may extend froma location near an end of the base 4, or from a different location onthe base 4 entirely. The surgical staple 2 may be independent of otherstaples or carriers, or may be frangibly affixed to a feeder belt in thesame manner as set forth in the Endocutter Publication. If so, the firstend 8 of the base 4 may be frangibly attached to the feeder belt, andthe second end 10 of the base may be connected to the tine 6.Advantageously, the surgical staple 2 is fabricated from a single pieceof material, such as stainless steel. However, the surgical staple 2 maybe fabricated from multiple independent components that are connectedtogether in any suitable manner. The tine 6 may include a free end 12,and an opposite end 14 that is connected to the second end 10 of thebase 4. The free end 12 of the tine 6 may be sharpened to facilitateentry into tissue. However, the tine 6 may be small enough incross-section and size that its free end need not be sharpened in orderto penetrate tissue. The tine 6 may be curved in a direction bothoutward from the base 4 and toward the first end 8 of the base 4, asshown in FIG. 1, such that the free end 12 of the tine 6 may be spacedapart from the first end 8 of the base 4 but positioned longitudinallyat a location substantially the same as the first end 8 of the base 4.As used in the description of the staple 2, without limitation as to theorientation of the staple 2 in used, the “longitudinal” direction refersto the direction along which the base 4 extends. If the base 4 iscurved, the longitudinal direction refers to the direction along astraight line that connects the ends 8, 10 of the base 4.

A barb 16 may extend from the base 4 at a location between its ends 8,10. The barb 16 has a free end 18 and an opposite end 20 that isconnected to the base 4. The free end 18 of the barb 16 may be sharpenedto facilitate entry into tissue. However, the barb 16 may be smallenough in cross-section and size that its free end need not be sharpenedin order to penetrate tissue. The barb 16 is shorter in length than thetine 6. As a result, it is more resistant to deformation. The length ofthe barb 16 may be selected to minimize or prevent deflection of thebarb 16 during deployment of the staple 2, as described in greaterdetail below. The barb 16 may be curved in a similar manner as the tine6, in a direction outward from the base 4 and toward the first end 8 ofthe base 4, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the staple 2 is shown in a closed state.Deployment and closure of the staple 2 may be performed substantially asset forth in the Endocutter Publication. To summarize, a wedge maycontact the staple directly, urge the tine 6 against an anvil, and causethe free end 12 of the tine 6 to bend toward the first end 8 of the base4. At the same time, the staple 2 as a whole is rotated about thejunction between the first end 8 of the base 4 and the feeder belt towhich the first end 8 of the base 4 is affixed. This rotation breaks thestaple 2 from the feeder belt after the staple 2 has closed. In theclosed state, the free end 12 of the tine 6 is closer to the base 4 thanin the open state. As shown in FIG. 2, the free end 12 of the tine 6 maycontact the base 4 in the closed state, but the free end 12 of the tine6 need not contact the base 4 when the staple 2 is closed. In the closedstate, the free end 18 of the barb 16 may be closer to the tine 6 thanin the open state. The free end 18 of the barb 16 may contact the tine 6in the closed state, but need not do so. Contact between the free end 18of the barb 16 and the tine 6 may cause deformation of the barb 16.Alternately, the barb 16 is stiff enough, and/or the staple 2 is closedin such a manner, that the barb 16 substantially does not deform in theclosed state. Referring also to FIG. 3, in the closed state, the staple2 traps tissue 20 between the base 4 and the tine 6. The base 4 ispositioned on one side of tissue 20; the tine 6 may extend through thatlayer of tissue 20 to its other side, then back into that layer oftissue 20 to come into proximity to the base 4. The barb 16 may extendinto but not completely through the layer of tissue 20, contacting thetine 6 or coming into proximity to the tine 6 in order to better trapand hold tissue 20 between the tine 6 and the base 4 when the staple 2is in the closed state.

Referring to FIG. 4, another example of a surgical staple 2 is shown.The base 4 and the tine 6 of this staple 2 are substantially as setforth with respect to FIGS. 1-3 above. Instead of a barb 16, a secondtine 22 extends from the base 4 between the tine 6 and the first end 8of the base 4. The second tine 22 is longer than the barb 16 and shorterthan, or substantially the same length as, the tine 6. Alternately, thesecond tine 22 may be longer than the tine 6. The second tine 22 mayhave a free end 24 and an opposite end 26 that is connected to the base4. The free end 24 of the second tine 22 may be sharpened to facilitateentry into tissue. However, the second tine 22 may be small enough incross-section and size that its free end need not be sharpened in orderto penetrate tissue. The second tine 22 may be curved in a directionboth outward from the base 4 and toward the first end 8 of the base 4,as shown in FIG. 4, such that the free end 24 of the second tine 22 maybe spaced apart from the first end 8 of the base 4 but positionedlongitudinally at a location substantially the same as the first end 8of the base 4. The tine 6 may be curved in a direction both outward fromthe base 4 and toward the first end 8 of the base 4, as shown in FIG. 4,such that the free end 12 of the tine 6 may be spaced apart from thefirst end 8 of the base 4 but positioned longitudinally between the freeend 24 of the second tine 24 and the second end 10 of the tine 6. Boththe tine 6 and second tine 22 may possess substantially the same degreeand shape of curvature. However, the tine 6 and second tine 22 need notbe curved in the same manner.

Referring also to FIG. 5, the staple of FIG. 4 may be closed by urgingthe tine 6 and second tine 22 into a staple pocket in an anvil, as setforth in the Endocutter Publication. Due to the curvature of the tines6, 22, they close in the same direction, rather than in oppositedirections. As a result, a substantially “B-shaped” configuration of theclosed staple 2 may result, where one-half of the B is oriented in theopposite direction from that of a conventional surgical staple. Thetines 6, 22 of the staple 2 of FIG. 5 are sized and shaped such thatthey do not substantially interfere with one another.

Alternately, the tines 6, 22 may be sized, shaped and/or otherwiseconfigured to contact one another during closure, such as to provideadded deformation of one or more tines 6, 22. Alternately, the tine 6may be laterally offset from the second tine 22 to prevent contactbetween the two. Referring to FIGS. 6-7, a staple pocket 30 may bedefined in an anvil 32, where each staple pocket 30 corresponds to asingle staple 2. Each staple pocket 30 may include two sub-pockets 34,each corresponding to a different tine 6, 22 of the staple 2. Engagementbetween each tine 6, 22 and its corresponding sub-pocket 34 deforms thetines 6, 22 to close in the same direction. The tines 6, 22 may belaterally offset from one another, such that the sub-pockets 34 arelaterally offset from one another as seen in FIG. 7. In this way, thetines 6, 22 can close without interference with one another, in theevent that the tine 6 is long enough to close onto the second tine 22 ifthe tines 6, 22 were not offset.

While the invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent toone skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can bemade and equivalents employed, without departing from the presentinvention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe details of construction, the arrangements of components, and/or thesteps of performing anastomosis set forth in the above description orillustrated in the drawings. Therefore, the invention is not to berestricted or limited except in accordance with the following claims andtheir legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: astaple holder configured to hold staples; a plurality of staplescontained within said staple holder, wherein one of the plurality ofstaples comprising: a base including a first end and a second end,wherein said first end configured to frangibly detach from an attachmentcontained within said staple holder; and two tines extending from saidbase, wherein a first tine extends from said second end of said base andwherein a second tine extends from a location between said first tineand said first end of said base; and an anvil configured to deform saidplurality of staples as said plurality of staples are deployed.
 2. Thesurgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first tine and saidsecond tine are substantially of equal lengths.
 3. The surgical staplingapparatus of claim 1, wherein said first tine and said second tine arepositioned or oriented laterally offset relative to one another.
 4. Thesurgical stapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anvil includes atleast one staple forming pocket.
 5. The surgical stapling apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein at least one said staple forming pocket includes twosub-pockets.
 6. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 5, wherein saidtwo sub-pockets being positioned or oriented laterally offset relativeto one another.
 7. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 5, whereinsaid sub-pockets configured to cause both said first tine and saidsecond tine to deform or close upon contact between said staple and acorresponding staple forming pocket of said anvil.
 8. The surgicalstapling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said attachment being coupled orconnected to said staple holder.
 9. The surgical stapling apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said attachment being coupled to or connected to astaple feeder belt contained at least partially within said stapleholder.
 10. A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a staple holderconfigured to hold staples; a plurality of staples contained within saidstaple holder, wherein one of the plurality of staples comprising: abase including a first end and a second end, wherein said first endconfigured to frangibly detach from an attachment contained within saidstaple holder; a tine extending from said second end of said base and abarb extending from a location between said tine and said first end ofsaid base; and an anvil configured to deform said plurality of staplesas said plurality of staples are deployed.
 11. The surgical staplingapparatus of claim 10, wherein said tine and said barb are substantiallyof unequal lengths.
 12. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10,wherein said tine and said barb are positioned or oriented laterallyoffset relative to one another.
 13. The surgical stapling apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein said anvil includes at least one staple formingpocket.
 14. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 13, wherein atleast one said staple forming pocket includes two sub-pockets.
 15. Thesurgical stapling apparatus of claim 14, wherein said two sub-pocketsbeing positioned or oriented laterally offset relative to one another.16. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 14, wherein saidsub-pockets configured to cause both said tine and said barb to deformor close upon contact between said staple and a corresponding stapleforming pocket of said anvil.
 17. The surgical stapling apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein said attachment coupled or connected to said stapleholder.
 18. The surgical stapling apparatus of claim 10, wherein saidattachment coupled to or connected to a staple feeder belt contained atleast partially within said staple holder.